New BMW Owner

[JD'S BMW Z3]

(1999 Z3 Roadster convertible 2.8 5 speed manual trans). Since this is my first BMW I thought what a better place to get familiar with my (what I like to call) classic BMW and find some great modification ideas for engine and suspension.
After all it is 21 years old and still looks damn good I think for having 108K original miles. Found this reasonably priced(3300US Dollars) in my local ads and just had to have it. It's all original except for stereo and cold air intake which I have done. I couldn't believe how well the car was taken care of, as most BMW owners do. The paint was in near new condition with the exception of some road chips and still sporting the original convertible top. I did have to replace the back window I almost forgot! Interior is in excellent condition as well as the leather seats and steering wheel.
I'm here looking for some exhaust ideas, maybe Catback or just a muffler to take full advantage of the cold air intake. Also I'm guessing the cat is original and at 100k miles probably needs replacing? Also looking for some suspension upgrade ideas as she seems to ride a little rough on the road but handles great. Any ideas or thoughts on these items will be greatly appreciated I will do some searching on the site here to find some answers first before I start throwing the questions out here. Anyways thanks to all and have a great day!

 

[andyglym]

to the forum from West Cumbria, England. I have the same Zed (Zee) and have a Supersprint Cat back stainless steel exhaust, great expensive though at £750. I have the Bilstein B12 Pro kit with Eibach springs lowered by 30mm, also great

 

[hard top]

Welcome on the forum JD'S BMW Z3

 

[JD'S BMW Z3]

to the forum from West Cumbria, England. I have the same Zed (Zee) and have a Supersprint Cat back stainless steel exhaust, great expensive though at £750. I have the Bilstein B12 Pro kit with Eibach springs lowered by 30mm, also great

Thanks Andy I wonder if anyone has eliminated the cat and what benefits if any there are to that? I'll have to search the site for that as well! Sooooo many things I want to do!!!! I feel all giddy inside!

 

[Mark Parrish]

Welcome from Cheshire uk

 

[Jack Ratt]

Hi JD welcome to the forum

 

[Shelly]

 

[t-tony]

Thanks Andy I wonder if anyone has eliminated the cat and what benefits if any there are to that? I'll have to search the site for that as well! Sooooo many things I want to do!!!! I feel all giddy inside!

Hi and welcome from me near Lincoln,UK. That’s a good looking car you found. Where are you located please?
Regarding the Cat, if it was removed from a car here in the UK it would not pass the yearly roadworthiness examination as it has to be present if fitted from new. I believe it wouldn’t be allowed out in CA either.

Tony.

ps. I like the finish on the wheels too. Is that from the factory?

 

[JD'S BMW Z3]

Hi and welcome from me near Lincoln,UK. That’s a good looking car you found. Where are you located please?
Regarding the Cat, if it was removed from a car here in the UK it would not pass the yearly roadworthiness examination as it has to be present if fitted from new. I believe it wouldn’t be allowed out in CA either.

Tony.

ps. I like the finish on the wheels too. Is that from the factory?

Hey there Tony I'm in the US Arizona to be exact. You are correct it wouldn't pass here either but they didn't even look under the car when I took it for inspection, they just checked the gas cap and plugged into the computer to make sure there was no codes. Maybe the guy was being lazy that day. As for the wheels Tony, I was told by the previous owner that bought it new that they were factory originals. He was the original owner and even gave me the factory window sticker with a price tag of 36K. One quick question though I see you guys refer to them as Zed's, how does that come about?

 

[t-tony]

Hey there Tony I'm in the US Arizona to be exact. You are correct it wouldn't pass here either but they didn't even look under the car when I took it for inspection, they just checked the gas cap and plugged into the computer to make sure there was no codes. Maybe the guy was being lazy that day. As for the wheels Tony, I was told by the previous owner that bought it new that they were factory originals. He was the original owner and even gave me the factory window sticker with a price tag of 36K. One quick question though I see you guys refer to them as Zed's, how does that come about?

It’s just our pronunciation of the letter, we say Zed and you guys say Zee. Another quirk of the American/English language.. @FRANKIE told me that they do a similar type of emissions inspection up in NJ too. I used to do the UK equivalent inspection (in the UK it’s called an MOT Test) before I retired just over a year ago.

Tony.

 

[PHILIP BAXTER]

Hi, and welcome from me in Cardiff.

 

[Keet]

Hello and welcome to the forum

 

[Mint]

Hi @JD'S BMW Z3, to the forum from me too, across the pond in Staffordshire, UK.

 

[Stevo7682]

Hi and welcome from me in Scotland .